Building Better Cultures

In this week's episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott is joined by Dublin-based psychologist and coach Niamh Hannan. She has been a psychologist for over 25 years and is the first in Europe to bring Emotional Connection (EMC) to our workplaces.   Niamh argues that "difficult behaviour " at work is usually a symptom of unaddressed emotional disconnect, and that behaviour -focused HR...

This week, Scott was joined by Tanya Uyigue, an Author, Career and Workplace Strategist where they unpacked why workplace culture rises or falls on everyday management behaviour . Drawing from her book " What Your Team Won't Tell You" , she explains how destructive patterns often come from habits, blind spots, and poor preparation rather than bad intent.   Together , they explore the warning signs...

Welcome back to the Building Better Cultures Podcast with Scott McInnes!   In our second episode of the season, recorded live in our Dublin offices, Scott is joined by Gary Keegan, CEO of Uppercut and former head of the Irish Institute of Sport. Gary traces his path from the Merchant Navy, through the Army and boxing coaching, to leading high performance in Irish sport and then in business. He arg...

Welcome back to the Building Better Cultures Podcast with Scott McInnes!   We are kicking this season off with a bang, with two podcast episodes live from our Dublin offices.   In this first episode, Scott was joined by Cleo Mc Cormack, Director, Future of Work Institute at Cpl Group.  Cleo traces her path from the beauty industry into tech, and argues that t he biggest challenge in work today is...

What We Get Wrong About Leaders (Best Bits) We keep throwing people into leadership roles and hoping they figure it out. Unfortunately, they often don't. In this best-bits episode of Building Better Cultures we look back to Episodes 48 and 49. We hear from Jamie Heaslip about the leadership gap, and how we still promote people without equipping them. And we hear from Zoe Routh about the craft of a...

The Belonging Question Diversity gets measured. Belonging gets felt. What actually creates it in an organisation? In this best-bits episode of Building Better Cultures, we delve back into Episodes 72 and 77 to hear about structural DEI accountability from Wema Hoover, and belonging as a fundamental human need in teams from Peter Docker. Both have operated at real scale, so this is practice rather...

Bounce (Best Bits) Resilience gets thrown around a lot at work these days, but it's more than a buzzword. In this best-bits episode of Building Better Cultures, taken from Episodes 39 and 84, we hear an incredible story of resilience from Ryan Campbell, and the psychology that explains it from psychologist Niamh Fitzpatrick. Ryan Campbell was a kid who wanted to fly before he could really explain...

How We Work Now (Best Bits) Office, home, hybrid. Are we any clearer on how it actually works? In this best-bits episode of Building Better Cultures, Scott McInnes goes back to Episodes 71 and 37 with Chris Dyer and Jane Sparrow to hear how organisational culture is evolving as we work out how we'll probably be working for the next century. And that comes down to finding a happy balance between wh...

Empathy Isn't Soft  When did you last ask someone how they actually were, and really listen? Everyone says empathy matters. Nobody actually teaches it. In this best-bits episode of Building Better Cultures, Scott McInnes goes back to two conversations about why that needs to change: Rob Volpe (EP092) on empathy as a practical leadership tool, and Niamh Fitzpatrick (EP084) on the emotional aftermat...

Data convinces. Stories move people. So why do we still lead with the spreadsheet? In this best-bits episode of Building Better Cultures, Scott McInnes goes back to two conversations about the power of narrative at work: Richard Newman (EP108) on the neuroscience of emotional engagement, and Alison Esse (EP012) on purpose-led storytelling at scale. Richard Newman explains what actually happens in...

Lessons from the Locker Room (BBC Best Bits Ep1) What do a rugby coach, a rugby captain and an RAF pilot have in common? Turns out, they all know quite a lot about leadership. In our first 'Best Bits' episode, Scott McInnes revisits three standout conversations with leaders who've performed under real pressure: Stuart Lancaster, Jamie Heaslip and Peter Docker. Stuart Lancaster explains why psychol...

I n this episode, Scott McInnes  is joined once again by Inspiring Change's  Sadhbh O'Flaherty to dig into their latest research,  Bridging the  Connection  Gap . Building on last year's  Mind the Gap  study ,  where CPOs and CEOs identified disconnection as one of the top barriers to a strong, aligned culture ,  Scott and Sadhbh went deeper, speaking one-on-one with senior leaders to understand w...

In this  week's  episode , Scott Mc Innes   sits down with  Christine Armstrong , to dive deep into   the critical importance of connection in the workplace.  Together they  explore how workplace trends have eroded relationships  and the role of intentionality in creating a thriving organisational culture.   Christine offers p ractical strategies to rebuild trust  at work and really nurture those...

In this week's episode, Scott is joined by authors Minette Norman and Karolin Helbig as they delve into practical strategies for fostering trust, vulnerability, and inclusion in organisations, and explore the nuances of psychological safety. This episode reveals how small changes can lead to profound shifts in workplace culture. In this episode, you'll discover: ·        The definition and emotion...

In this episode of Building Better Cultures, Scott McInnes  talks to  Alan Stracey, a certified ADHD  C oach and  F ounder of  WhereFocusGoes , to explore the nuanced world of neurodiversity. They discuss how understanding and accommodating neurodivergent conditions can transform workplace culture and unlock individual potential.   In this episode,  you'll  discover:   What is neurodiversity and h...

In this episode, Scott McInnes welcomes Wema Hoover, founder of Be Limitless Consulting, to explore the impact of AI on leadership, culture, and work. They discuss how  organi s ations  can  leverage  AI while  maintaining  a human-centered approach, fostering  innovation, and managing change across generations.   In this episode,  you'll  discover:   The rapid evolution of AI and its influence on...

In this week's episode, host Scott McInnes has an insightful conversation with  Stephen Baer, founder of  Engagency , as they explore the core principles behind building resilient  organi s ational  cultures that thrive on trust, purpose, and people-centered leadership.     In this episode,  you'll  learn:   The true drivers of employee engagement and retention   The role of middle management in f...

In this special bonus episode, Scott  McInnes  and his colleague Sadhbh O'Flaherty  are joined by  Communications Consultant at Gallagher,  Maddison Grigsby, to  explore the latest insights from the 'State of the Sector' report on internal communications, focusing on the readiness gap, strategic alignment, and human-centric communication .    Maddison shares expert advice on improving manager effe...

In this episode of the  Building Better Cultures Podcast , host Scott McInnes speaks with Glenda Kirby, Chief Customer Officer at Poppulo, about the evolving role of leadership communication in a fast-changing workplace.   They explore how  trust, transparency, and empathy  form the foundation of strong organizational cultures, particularly in a world shaped by hybrid work, constant change, and em...

In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, host Scott McInnes is joined by Iain Kirkwood, Chief HRO of EX3, to explore the critical role of people in  organisational  success. They discuss the importance of clarity in purpose, the necessity of difficult conversations in performance management, and the empowerment of  people  leaders. The conversation delves into the significance of c...

In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes  has an insightful conversation  with Professor Peter Hawkins , a leading authority in systemic coaching and leadership development. They explore the essential elements  organi s ations  need to thrive in the 21st century,  emphasi s ing  the importance of being purpose-led, stakeholder-centric, and fostering collective leaders...

In this week's episode of the Building Better Cultures Podcast, host Scott McInnes sits down with Joe Lalley, author of 'How Curiosity Can Transform Your Career, Your Team, and Your  Organisation .' Together, they explore the power of curiosity in transforming careers, teams, and  organisations . Tune in to discover practical insights on fostering curiosity, psychological safety, and innovative cu...

In this week's episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes speaks with Kim Bohr, President and COO of Spark Effect, about the critical role of trust in  organisations . They discuss the findings from the report 'Trust in Turbulence' which breaks down trust into measurable domains and  emphasises  its importance as a competitive advantage. The conversation explores how disruption...

Welcome back to a brand-new series of the Building Better Cultures Podcast! In the first episode of the season, host Scott McInnes is joined by Phil Codd, Managing Director of Expleo in Ireland. They discuss the multifaceted nature of organisational culture, emphasising the importance of aligning leadership and employee cultures. Phil shares insights on employee happiness, effective communication,...

Summary   In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes discusses the challenge of disconnection in the workplace with guests Susie Leacy and Kevin Empey. They explore the impact of remote work on employee connection, the role of leadership in fostering a cohesive culture, and the importance of intentional strategies to build relationships among employees. The conversation...